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A swarm of crossover SUVs filed into Pullman Friday reminding those of us that have lost track of time that Mom's Weekend is upon us.
As frustrating as sitting through a couple traffic lights in that little space around Main, Grand, and Paradise or crawling up Stadium Way can be, Mom's and Dad's Weekends are easily two of my favorite weekends of the year. They are fantastic reminders of the greatest instinct we all have as human beings, to love our children and want the best for them.
Moms taking a day off work, driving a long distance, and spending a quality weekend with their sons and daughters as they make the transition into adulthood is solid proof of this. It lets us see both nature and nurture in action.
The nature part of Mom's and Dad's Weekends that most fascinates me is what I like to call the "genetic sneak-preview." Want to know what your friend, roommate, or person you might have an interest in will look like in 25-30 years? Well, wonder no more. There they are right next to Mom or Dad and we can see right into the future. I'm amazed at how many students are clearly younger carbon copies of their parents.
But even more powerful than the "genetic sneak-preview" is the nurture aspect when you can see parents' personality and character traits in their sons and daughters. When I have the opportunity to speak with somebody's parents, it becomes very clear that the apple truly does not fall far from the tree. It usually only takes three or so minutes to realize that the exceptional qualities I see in young adults are not inherent, but rather years of hard work on the part of their mothers and fathers.
In the end, Mom's Weekend does little to help solve the nature versus nurture debate. Instead, it only enshrouds us further into the mystery. Moms are usually their children's biggest fans and can find something good to say about their children, not matter what. In other words, it's just their nature to nurture.
So dust your apartment or dorm, make your bed for the first time this semester, and stock the refrigerator with some vegetables. Mom is here, and it's time to start paying her back by showing her a great weekend.
BASEBALL
The WSU Baseball team entertained their biggest fans by picking up a 4-1 win against No. 6 Oregon State on Friday night. Joe Pistorese was absolutely stellar on the mound for the Cougs allowing one earned run in his second straight complete game performance. Pistorese, who has solidified himself as WSU's Friday night starter, experienced only a slight hiccup in the second inning when he struggled with his command and gave up his only run after allowing four straight Beaver batters to reach base.
The Cougs pulled ahead in in the third inning when Nick Tanielu hit a sharp infield single off the leg of Oregon State pitcher Ben Welker to score Trek Stemp with the go-ahead and eventual winning run. Stemp and his teammates also provided some solid defense for the Pistorese all night with some nice plays on their way to an errorless game. The Beavs made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth by putting the tying run at the plate with two outs. But Pistorese kept his composure to seal the deal.
WSU will be back in action against Oregon State Saturday at Bailey-Brayton Fiekd for a scheduled 2 pm opening pitch.
Pitching and Defense Carries Cougars - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Joe Pistorese pitches four-hitter against No. 5 Beavers.
FOOTBALL
ESPN or ESPN2 to Televise Football Game at Nevada - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Washington State’s football game at Nevada later this fall has been moved to Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 and will be televised by ESPN or ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. PT.
Spring Practice Report: Day 7 - SportsLink - Spokesman.com - April 10, 2014
Washington State finally put on full pads on Thursday. The coaches put on headsets and officials were in uniform. The reason for the extra accoutrements? The Cougars had their first live-tackling session of spring. More on that after the jump.
ROWING
Twelfth-Ranked Cougars Face Fifth-Ranked Huskies - Washington State University Official Athletic Site
The Washington State University women's rowing team travels to Seattle to face cross-state rival Washington, Saturday, April 12 at Lake Union. Racing will begin at 9 a.m.